Top 10 Influential Investors

Had the following list of influential investors combined their net worth, they could have bought South Africa (and probably made a profit). Even in the times of boom-and-bust cycles, subprime mortgages, credit card debt and corporate corruption, their advice and philosophy to investing stood true. Know the company and know the math, they argue, and you’ll beat the market.

Many of these influential investors got their knocks during the Great Depression, lessons they used to profit from the Arab Oil Embargo, World War II, the Great Recession and other market grenades. Most eschewed “wizardly” technical analysis, preferring simple number crunching and intense market research. As Warren Buffet advised, “Rule 1: Never lose money. Rule 2: Never forget Rule 1.”

1. Charles Merrill

During the 1930s, as Colorado farmers suffered from the Dust Bowl, Charles E. Merrill – “Good Time Charlie” – was enjoying his estate in Palm Beach, Florida. How did he manage it? In 1914, Merrill partnered with Edmund Lynch to form the investment company, Merrill Lynch and Company. A long-term investor, Merrill focused on growth. He grew the Safeway food chain into more than 3,500 stores. He detested short-term speculation and, later in life, instructed his employees to teach new couples the foundations of stock market investing.

2. Thomas Rowe Price, Jr.

After graduating with a Bachelor’s of Science in Chemistry, Thomas Rowe Price, Jr., promptly switched to finance. Price became known as the father of growth stocks, selecting companies that emphasized research and development and had a strong sales team. Then he held on for dear life. When he finally sold his 3M shares after 50 years, he made a profit of 17,000 percent.

At Endless Rise Investor, we follow a list of 30 value investors that fit our long-term philosophy. We couldn’t have asked for better analysts. You can view our list of Super Investors on our homepage: http://EndlessRiseInvestor.com (finding just 3-5 great investment opportunities every year through this process, gives an investor a superior advantage versus the rest of the market.)

Lukas Neely is the Co-Founder of BetterInvestingHabits.org, InvestorVantage.com and Guru Investor Edge. He is on a mission to provide actionable investment ideas, tools, videos, tutorials and educational material to help individuals invest better. Stay in touch with Lukas via our social media platforms for valuable ideas, updates, prizes and contests.